Portret van Charles Marie de La Condamine 1775 - 1834

Konrad Westermayr created this portrait of Charles Marie de la Condamine, sometime between the late 18th and early 19th century. The portrait is dominated by a carefully rendered profile set against a solid oval backdrop. The artist has used fine hatching to model the face, creating a sense of depth and capturing the sitter's features in detail. The subject’s gaze is directed to the left, while the texture of his wig and the lace detail of his jabot add a sense of materiality. Within this composition, the oval form containing the portrait contrasts with the rectangular format of the print, creating a visual hierarchy that frames the individual as a figure of significance. Westermayr uses line and form not merely to represent, but to elevate the sitter through careful structuring of space. The use of an oval as a frame can be seen as a way of containing and formalizing the subject. Ultimately, Westermayr's print functions within a specific cultural discourse of portraiture, using established visual languages to negotiate representation, identity, and social status.